Tape of Hillary Aide Reveals Sex, Drugs

Audiotapes recorded by Kennedy in-law Raymond Reggie while cooperating with an FBI probe into an August 2000 gala fund-raiser for Hillary Clinton could be devastating for the Democratic Party, according to Louisiana's Times Picayune, which has obtained transcripts of the Reggie tapes.

The paper reports that a Sept. 4, 2002 tape of Reggie talking to Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senate race finance chairman David Rosen "captures a conversation rife with gossip about the seamy side of political life, including the sex, drugs and prostitutes enjoyed by big-name Democratic stalwarts."

Rosen is set to go on trial Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on charges that he filed false reports with the Federal Election Commission, reports that dramatically understated the costs of the 2000 event. Beyond making incriminating statements on the September 2002 recording, Rosen told Reggie about an episode where prostitutes were allegedly provided to Clinton allies by a big-money donor.

According to the Times Picayune:

"The salaciousness reaches its pinnacle with Rosen's rambling anecdote about a fat cat Clinton donor who said after a night of partying that he sent prostitutes to the hotel rooms of two top Clinton loyalists."

Quoting Rosen directly, the paper reports:

"So the next day, [one of the loyalists] calls [the donor] from the golf course with [President] Clinton. Clinton gets on the phone, he goes, I just wanna tell you something. ... The day I'm outta office, I'm going out with you."

The paper said a lawyer close to the Clinton circle denied that the former president ever made such a comment.

The indicted Clinton aide also expresses concern about a joint defense arrangement he has with the former first couple's legal team.

"The former White House wanted to hire, or argue the case in a certain way," Rosen says in the transcript. "And I did it for them. Like, I bit the bullet and went in as a guinea pig, and argued their argument for me."

Rosen hinted that if he wanted to, he could have implicated higher-ups.

"Instead of frettin' and runnin' and coverin' my ass," he told Reggie, "I was a good soldier. ... So far it's worked out, but I coulda done it a lot different."

The paper offers no indication that Rosen made any incriminating statements about Hillary Clinton. So far, there is no evidence Hillary Clinton was aware of the fund-raising costs ? or that they exceeded in-kind contribution limits.

Rosen did, however, offer harsh comments about Bill Clinton, indicating that he didn't like the then-president's constant meddling in Hillary's Senate campaign in 2000.

An exasperated Rosen, ticked off, said Clinton called him once a week. Rosen told Reggie he wanted to tell him, "Go screw yourself, Mr. President."

Both Reggie and Rosen had unpleasanant comments about Al Gore.

Reggie detailed Al Gore's visit to New Orleans for the 2002 Super Bowl ? without the trappings of office.

"I mean, I felt bad," said Reggie, who said he escorted Gore around town. "Here you are, the former VP, and the guy's like flying in a little, you know, nothing plane. And he's gonna catch a Yellow Cab. I'm like, no."

Rosen was miffed that Gore failed to notice him at a political event.

"I won't cross the street for that guy," he said. "I was willing to get talked back into another round with his ass. And I went to an event, and he was there. And I'm with him one-on-one a hundred times. At least. And he thought I was the valet parker."